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The Rev. Mark Inglot, accused of sexual harassment, can no longer publicly serve as priest

EAST LANSING -- A religious leader who resigned after being accused of sexually harassing a coworker last fall can no longer publicly function as a priest, a Catholic Diocese of Lansing spokesman said Sunday.

The Rev. Mark Inglot, 63, who served East Lansing's St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and St. John Church and Student Center, has been given senior priest status, the Catholic church's equivalent of retirement.

"In this climate, we just want to make sure to folks this is not a question of a priest abusing children," Michael Diebold, a diocese spokesman, said Sunday. "It was a credible allegation of sexual harassment, which was why Father Inglot was removed from the parish last fall."

Inglot has not been charged of any crimes but will be prohibited from having any parish assignments within any Catholic church, Diebold said.

"Our senior priests are those who have reached an age where they are no longer assigned to a parish," Diebold said. "Generally, a senior priest can and does help at parishes when it is necessary. That will not be the case with Father Inglot."

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Father Mark Inglot blesses ashes before their distribution to the congregation in 2009 at St. John Student Parish.(Photo: State Journal file photo)

Inglot was granted senior priest status after "a five-month period of therapy and discernment" and 37 years of service in the diocese, according to a news release posted Saturday on the diocese's website.

It also stated that Inglot "will not have public faculties to celebrate the sacraments" and that he will "use the tools he has gained to live out priesthood in right relationship with God and others, and to strengthen his commitment to celibacy."

Attempts to reach Inglot Sunday weren't successful.

Still supported

Radio host Michael Patrick Shiels, who describes Inglot as a friend he turns to for "any kind of spiritual or personal advice," said Inglot intends to live in Michigan after he returns from a retreat in Pennsylvania.

"We don’t know what happened," Shiels said of the allegations. "Was it a misunderstanding? Nobody really knows. That’s why it’s unfortunate that people draw conclusions."

Inglot told friends several years ago that he planned to retire by the age of 65, so news of his senior priest status wasn't a surprise, Shiels said.

The Rev. Mark Inglot has been given by senior priest status by the Catholic Diocese of Lansing.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Regina Stout)

Catrine Medawar, of Brighton, said she will always remember Inglot as a positive leader in the Catholic church who made her, a non-Catholic, feel accepted in the community.

“Father Mark has been a good friend and confidant to me for over 25 years," said Medawar, who is the owner of Medawar Jewelers and a Protestant. "He has been there through happy times and more importantly through very difficult times.

"I’ve loved him dearly and will continue to pray that the light that he has shown over my life will continue to shine brighter in the future.”

The same day the allegations about Inglot came out, the diocese announced it would be hiring someone to conduct an external investigation into child sex abuse in the church.

Inglot was assigned to St. John from 1987 to 1991 and later served as director of seminarians for the diocese and pastor at Queen of the Miraculous Medal in Jackson. Inglot became pastor at St. John in June 2000.

St. John Student Parish and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish partially combined in 2009 as part of a reorganization of what was at that time 97 churches in the Lansing Diocese.

Statewide probe

The Michigan Attorney General's Office announced last fall, under former Attorney General Bill Schuette, that it would start investigating abuse of any kind by Catholic priests in the state dating back to 1950.

New Attorney General Dana Nessel has continued the investigation. Her office hasn't named any priests who could face criminal charges.

"We will not confirm or deny that we are investigating a specific priest," said Kelly Rossman-McKinney, an attorney general's office spokeswoman, in an email Sunday.

Nessel is scheduled to give a briefing about the investigation and other matters at a Thursday news conference in Lansing.

A statement from her office about the investigation of priests in Michigan's seven Catholic dioceses said Nessel is "committed to leaving no stone unturned."

The office has set up a tip line for anyone who wants to report information about sexual abuse or cover up within the Catholic church. The number is 844-324-3374. Information can also be submitted online at michigan.gov/clergyabuse.

Anyone who has been harmed by someone in the church can also contact local law enforcement or the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator Cheryl Williams-Hecksel at 888-308-6252 or cwilliamshecksel@dioceseoflansing.org.